New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-11
THE CANAL UNION.
PROSPECT OF A LARGE CONFERENCE.
THE MEETING AT WORCESTERSHIRE ENGINEER
SWEET on CANAL IMPROVEMENTS.

THE MEETING AT WORCESTERSHIRE ENGINEER
SWEET on CANAL IMPROVEMENTS.
lrRoM spRCIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE.1
A1HAyy July 1O-The officers of the Union for the
Improyement OF the Canals have sent out 1000 in
vrtltions the third annual conference OF the Union,
which will be held ut Rochester en- July 2e, aud judy
ing from the replies already wed there will ne
larger number of persons In attendance at the confer
enee than has been present at previous meetings
this nature Perhaps the large attendance will be due
to the beraty OF the invitation; tho call requesting
the attendance at the conference of all organizations
of citizens in this State representing the commercial,
manufacturing agricultural, labor and other inter
e.ts who favor the improvement of the State
canals" individuals who favor the objects OF the
conference ara invited 70 attend and cities, towns
and counties which support the movement are re-
quested to send delegates. Delegations viii be sent
by the Chamber OF Comm cree. Produce Exchange
and Board Of Trade and Transportation OF New
York; and by the Merchants Exchange OF Buffalo.
The last Legislature appropriated $o5ctOO0 Tor
lengthening locks OF the Erie and Oswego canals;
and for making improvements to the Lake Champlain,
Black River and Seaeca and Cayuga canals Con-
tracts for lengthea hing the locks were made here the
past week by James Shanahan, whoas Superintendent
OF Public Works, kesps the canals in good condition.
This work will be begun after the close OF navigation
and will be finished before the canals opened next
spring.
State Engineer Sweet, who has just returned from
tour along all the canals siys that the lcngthenIng of
the locks will much ncresse the efficiency Of the Erie
canal service and diminish the cost of canal transpor
tation. The appropriation OF 800 1000 was due to
the Canal I'm ion Conference held at Syracuse last
year and the persistence with which the officers OF
the Union pushed the project before the Legislature
State Engineer Sweet Mr.. Shanahan and NY
self in selecting the locks to DO heightened on the
Erie canal have chosen those which II thus improved
will facilitate the passage through the canal of the
h,ayy ladea boats going from the West 10 the East
The first appropriation made. which was an expert
mental inten led to test the feasibility of SO
engineering lock PERM. of a steam canal boat
and Its consort being locked through at the time
was used i'm constructing lock west OF Syracuse.
We have since had 1920, 0O0; and now have $3.50
0U0 to expend; largely for the same purpose We
shall lsnsthsn locks east aud west of Syracuse
When the work is completed, it will be before navi
cation opens next spring. there will be distance of
$50 miles, from Newark to Mohawk in which two
canal boats can voyage together without being sepa
rated
9Is there much canal boat budingl" inquired The
TgIBUNE's respondent
"A yreat deal" replied The State Engineer | do
not know but that there is more than ever saw be-
tore. There was one very Interesting thing that
noticed my journey and that was that the canal
boatmen beginning TO run tour cats together,
one steamer and three canal boats. That will much
lessen their expenses. There or two OF
these Fleets last year but now tuere are several.
lock to 1Iite genera adoption OF this system. IL
the cost of canal trans portaton will be cheapened
The fact that the present method OF moving tue
canal bosts BY horse power, is out OF date and tar
TOO expensive. III the canal boam2n were capitalists
they would at once abandon IL and use steam. But,
poor fellows they havnt much money aud therefore,
they stick the old method. They also go to Buffalo
and coupote against each other Tor reignts, they
cannut wat; aud thus cut down their own compensa-
ton But il some great corporation had the manage
OF the canal transportation IL would inme-
diaeIy sell all the horses and substitute the steam
:ana boats II are to have fleets OF canal boats.
like those saw, we shall have to lengthen both sides
OF the present double lockH We now lengthen only
one side With both locks lengtheaed the steamer
could push OF its canal boats into lock and then
90 through the other lock itself with still auO:her
canal boat. This would be feasible at many tunes as
the canal not crowded Such feet would soon
reach New-yo rk It's voyage from Buffalo,"
"Are Won IN favor OF these improvements TO the
canals-does it pay y
Most decidedly. The State ID recompensed IL 10 no
other way by lower railroad rates The canals are
the great regulators OF tho railroad rates. That is
shown by the immediate increase OF railroad rates az
soon as the canals closed Tine lengthenu. OF the
locks and the deepening of the canals will give them
still better chance OF competing with the railroads
and lowering the rates.
The persons who will attend the Canal Union Con-
ference il Is under Stood will draw up bill Tor pres
entaion 10 the Legislature making still further APP
propriatiou for the improvement OF the canals Doubt
fess another appropriation OF $500 900 will be asked
In addition to gthenng the locks the leaders OF
the Union contemplate deepening the canal. tor the
purpose of permitting OF tue use OF larger canal boats
There ssyentytwo looks the Eric Canal.
When the 500, 0OC has been expended about one
quarter OF them will have been heightened. Where
there il chain OF locks like thoss at Lockr ort OF
course il will be TOO pensve job for the State 10
think Of lengtheuiog them Bot there arc many Other
locks which can be lcngtheaed that will benefit The
canal boatnen.